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Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Lenny Henry used humour to protect himself while dealing with racist childhood bullying
Sir Lenny Henry, who grew up in Dudley, opened up about the racist bullying he endured during his childhood Comedian Lenny Henry detailed how he used humour as his 'sword and shield' against the racist bullies in his childhood. The 66-year-old was born in Dudley in August 1958 to parents Winston and Winifred. His full name is Lenworth George Henry, and he was named after the doctor who delivered him at Burton Road Hospital. Sir Lenny previously revealed the horrific racist abuse that has plagued him, particularly as part of a Jamaican family in the West Midlands in the 70s. He had said that "Keep Britain white" was often painted on walls in the area he lived in, and that people would hound his mother on the streets, "asking where her tail was". In a new interview, the comedian said a lot of his defence from racism came from his late mother, Winifred. She had 'horrible things' yelled at her in the street after she moved to England from Jamaica as part of the Windrush Generation. At the time, Black children living in the area he grew up in were advised to be outside in pairs due to the racist abuse they went through. Speaking to The Sunday Times' Culture Magazine, he explained: "We were in the midst of this maelstrom, but you don't know that when you're kids. You just gravitate to people who like you, or want to snog you. "My humour became my sword and shield. I could deflect something with a joke. I was being beaten up by one kid when I started to talk about the ridiculousness of us rolling around on the floor like we were married. "People started to laugh and suddenly people thought I was worth something. I was still punched, but I'd have people protecting me. I had three white friends by the time I was 12: Greg, Mac and Tom. I still know them today and they saved my life, really. They encouraged me to be funny." The racism continued well into his career, with him previously explaining that the National Front smeared "N.F" in excrement on his and ex-wife Dawn French's door. They were even threatened with burning rags through the door and abusive letters. Dawn once said: 'We had words scratched into every panel of every car — very offensive, derogatory, racist terminology.' Lenny's career began when he appeared on New Faces at aged 15, eventually winning the show with his impression of Stevie Wonder. Two years later, he started doing a stand up routine on The Black and White Minstrel show, where performers in blackface sang minstrel songs. But being the only black performer in this intrinsically racist show gave Lenny "creeping dread". 'I would arrive at the theatre and know that I would be the only actual black person in the building, perhaps the only one within a 50-mile radius," he said.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
'I remember Ozzy Osbourne missing a gig and it caused a riot'
It was 18 July 1988, and a crowd of heavy metal fans gathered at Nottingham's Rock City to witness the Prince of Darkness himself make an Osbourne - who died on Tuesday, just weeks after a hometown farewell show in Birmingham - was nearly a decade into a successful solo career which started after he was sacked from Black night was thick with hairspray and anticipation, but the notoriously hard-living singer then reported feeling unwell and the evening went downhill Corcoran, who was there on the night, said: "The Ozzy Osbourne riot has since gone down in Rock City legend for all the wrong reasons." Now 58 and living in Lymm in Cheshire, Mr Corcoran said the now-iconic venue "was packed to the rafters and absolutely buzzing with anticipation before the gig"."Ozzy was a major force in rock at that time so for him to be playing such a small venue was a major coup for the club," he said on his website, Music in the the dry ice poured out and the atmosphere built, Mr Corcoran said the crowd became anxious as the wait for Osbourne's arrival went on."Then came the Tannoy announcement that Ozzy was ill back at his hotel and wouldn't be performing that night," he said."Some fans (including us) thought it was part of the show and laughed along with the joke."Then the lights went up and it became obvious that the Prince of Darkness really wouldn't be gracing us with his presence."The place went up very quickly."Luckily for Mr Corcoran, that night in Rock City was not his only opportunity to see Osbourne perform."I saw him at Donington [Monsters of Rock festival] in 84 and 86 and he was awesome," he said. Osbourne did return to Rock City - which now houses some of the ashes of his great friend Lemmy Kilmister - in 1995, when he played a secret Akins, managing director of DHP Family, which owns the venue, said the singer's agent contacted them ahead of a test for his new guitarist."We set up the show as part of our regular Friday rock night and about a 1,000 or so clubbers turned up and weren't sure why the stage had a full band setup," he said. "At around 23:00 Ozzy came on stage and belted out a full set."The guitarist didn't get the gig going forward, but Ozzy came back a few months later referring to Rock City as being back home."Mr Atkins said Ozzy "was really on form" at the gig, having avoided alcohol and warmed up by running around the venue and lifting some weights in his dressing efforts to alert the local press were unsuccessful - "I think they thought it was a hoax," he said - the event led to a continued relationship with a metal legend."Ozzy and Sharon were lovely and I ended up on their Christmas card list for many years," he said."Ozzy's legacy to metal and rock and roll is undeniable - I was lucky enough to work with him and his team a couple of times which will always have fond memories for me."He will be sorely missed, and I'm sure he's upsetting people wherever he is now."
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
England ace and love rat Jermain Defoe, 42, dating stunning recruiter 11 years his junior
The pair were spotted in the British Airways First Class lounge at London's Heathrow Airport last week OUT OF THIS LEAGUE OUT OF THIS LEAGUE England ace and love rat Jermain Defoe, 42, dating stunning recruiter 11 years his junior Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER England striker JERMAIN DEFOE can never stay single for too long. And now I can reveal that the ex-Premier League star is dating recruiter Farran Tomlin - 11 years his junior. 4 Former England striker Jermain Defoe can never stay single for too long Credit: Getty 4 Farran Tomlin is 11 years his junior Credit: Supplied The pair were spotted in the British Airways First Class lounge at London's Heathrow Airport last week - before jetting off on a romantic getaway to Bodrum in Turkey. A source said: 'The pair were very loved-up and enjoying the perks of the lounge before their flight.' Turkish singer Dilek Sert Erdogan posted a snap of the couple at the five-star Lujo Hotel Bodrum, captioned: 'The amazing Jermain Defoe and his lovely wife Farran came to see our show. 'Even after I got off stage, they were still there… 'Later, Farran messaged me saying: 'Jermain said: 'We have to stay afterwards - and let her know what an amazing voice she has.' How sweet is that?' 'We had a lovely little chat - they're such warm, genuine people. One by one they sparkle but together they shine!' In 2023 Jermain was caught kissing wedding planner Paige Mallabourn-Edmondson at a hotel in Lancashire - days after appearing on a red carpet with his influencer girlfriend Alisha LeMay. It came after Jermain left his wife Donna Tierney for Alisha after less than a year of marriage. Let's hope Jermain doesn't stray this time… 4 Turkish singer Dilek Sert Erdogan posted a snap of the couple at the five-star Lujo Hotel Bodrum Credit: Instram/Dilekserdogan
